Lethal but legal lethwei laying the foundations for Myanmar’s MMA boom

As a hero to millions in his homeland of Myanmar, Aung La Nsang chooses his words carefully and so it pays to reflect on a statement he made before fighting for the One Championship middleweight world title last month.

“I will become my country’s first world mixed martial arts champion,” said the 32-year-old. “But this will just be the beginning for fighters from Myanmar. The world had better watch out.”

Nsang duly went out and made sure the first part of that prediction became fact, showing both ferocity and courage in winning a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Russian Vitaly Bigdash in front of a delirious crowd at Yangon’s Thuwunna Indoor Stadium.

History was sealed, and Nsang says it now also beckons for a generation of Burmese fighters he predicts will descend on MMA having hardened up already through years learning and competing in the traditional combat sport of lethwei.

“In Myanmar, every boy grows up loving to fight,” said Nsang. “Everybody in our country loves lethwei. When I was a boy I loved it, even though I never really learned it. I would watch the fights with friends and family every week. Fighting is just in our nature. Many of these fighters, if they chose to come to MMA, they are already experienced. Very experienced.”